An emergency alert was reissued on Sunday, April 15, after a massive bushfire flared up and threatened to destroy homes across southwest Sydney.

After burning over 1,000 hectares of bushland since Saturday, the bushfire was downgraded after fire crews battled the blaze through the evening, ABC reported. However, unseasonal autumn heat and dry weather resulted in the out-of-control fire to flare up and push northeast towards Sutherland.

More than 500 firefighters, almost 100 trucks, and 15 aircraft are battling the blaze, the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) reported.

Aerial footage taken from NSW RFS shows bushland burning across southwest Sydney. Credit: NSW Rural Fire Service via Storyful